[Rocky1]

we take rocky for a walk 3 times a day and to the dog park every night..
but the thing is when we go by our house there is a lake for dogs to walk and when we go there it all with big goes pitbulls german sheperds boxers ect... rocky is fine untill a dog go up to him one time the lady said all the dogs here are great with other animals so we took him off the leash and a boxer charged at rocky to say hello rock turned around ran as fast as he could a cried he has been doing this even with his leach on and even when rocky walks up to the bigger dog first and a big dog wants to play he tries to turn around and run away and cries behind our legs .
are we doing something wrong ? :confused2:whatever:

 

[Adara]

I would not take a puppy to the dog park. At his age ALL dog interactions should be fun and friendly. I would instead find a puppy socialiation class to enroll him in where an instructor can show you how to watch dog interactions and help him if need be and have him get some positive non-scary experiences with dogs.

 

[Rocky1]

he is he starts next friday .
thank u

 

[arankin]

He is just a scared little baby. He doesn't know who these big strange dogs are who are running up to him and rudely saying hello. I second Adara, socialize him only with other pups for now and family friend's dogs, making it all positive for him! He will develop his confidence, for now he is probably too little.

 

[Beaumont67]

Rocky1 - read my last nights post #65...for some additional background.
- when a puppy is put into scarey situation(s)...your making a lot of unnecessary work for yourself
http://www.dobermantalk.com/doberma...ill-his-protectivbe-instinct-ever-kick-3.html

***********************
Now please understand...my 8 week old dobe puppy was picked out for us 10.5 years ago...because it had zero to no confidence.
- (submissive to litter mates & exposed its bare belly) and it could only be trained with much love (firm hand, would shut it down)

I train dogs privately...and set our Amy up, for much success / tons of socialization...but we have never ever visited a dog park.
- just don't have the dog park need, when fixing or addressing problems
- I trained the confidence into her (from day 1)...letting her win when we played tug and mentally stimulated her brain...all the time.
I set her up to succeed (not to fail).

Years ago...our girl took it to a 150 male, that showed her bad manners.
She stopped a bigger aggressive dog from laying a severe biting, on my wife.
And she foiled a break & enter, in the making.... building confidence (at all cost) in a young dog, is the early foundation / for the end result.

 

[melbrod]

You know, I don't really believe anyone who says their dogs are fine with all the OTHER dogs....

What I mean by this, is, I let their DOG'S behavior speak for itself, and I watch my dogs' reactions, especially when they are young, and I do my best to not push them into uncertain situations that could be overwhelming or even dangerous when both dog and his owner are strangers to me.

Some folks are just so inexperienced and unknowledgeable about dogs that they really don't have a CLUE whether their dog is friendly or not. I'd rather not take their word for it.